A lawyer representing the family of Charla Nash, the Connecticut woman severely mauled by her friend's 200-pound chimpanzee, said an lawsuit is "imminent." Attorney Charles J. Willinger, Jr. filed preliminary papers seeking $50 million in damages from chimp owner Sondra Herold and will speak with reporters today. The AP reports the "papers seek an accounting of Herold's assets and a court order that would prevent her from selling or mortgaging them, including six pieces of property she owns and her stake in a Stamford used car dealership." Nash, who is at the Cleveland Clinic, "lost her nose, lips, eyelids, hands and bone structure in her mid-face and suffered significant brain, eye and tissue injuries in the attack," and her recovery potential is unclear. Her twin brother and legal guardian, Michael, has stated, "No amount of money can compensate my sister for the injuries she has suffered."
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2025. Donate today